Prolific inventors from Trinity turn expertise to problem of space junk

Trinity College Dublin is something of an inventors’ hothouse, recently racking up its 500th invention – a prediction system that can help you avoid getting hit by space junk. This cutting-edge 21st century technology is designed to help protect the Earth and its inhabitants from the falling debris of disintegrating spacecraft and satellites that re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Currently being tested in collaboration with the European Space Agency, it provides accurate predictions for spacecraft, satellite and space station parts on their re-entry into the atmosphere. Another invention helps create a virtual but ultra-realistic sounding audio experience that improves gaming and virtual reality environments. Yet another is a device that can measure the toughness of a bubble to measure its surface tension.